10-Minute Cardio Abs Tabata

It’s time to work your core and get super sweaty with this all new Tabata workout for your abs!

Today we’ll be doing two 4-minute power sets against the clock to really maximize our burn – for a total of about 10 minutes of power burn, focused on shredding the abs!

Tabatas are done in 0:20 work intervals paired with 0:10 rest intervals (which is about the amount of time it takes me to switch positions for the next move anyway) which you repeat for a total of 4 minutes.

I really love this kind of training, because in less time we can still get a really effective cardio workout in. In an 8-week tabata style treadmill study, researchers found that their participants improved overall flexibility and anaerobic power while decreasing musculoskeletal impact on their ligaments, joints, and tendons.

We just finished a month of tabata style workouts in our live Rock Your Life home workout classes thanks to it being one of the top requested training styles in my fitness community! I can guarantee that you’re going to enjoy it!

Looking forward to hearing from you today, so be sure to leave me a comment below to check in!

10-Minute Tabata Abs

TABATA ONE

Move 1: Sit Up Cross Punch

Lay on your back with your knees bent, holding your (optional) light weights in close to your chest. Hook your feet under the couch or anything handy to hold your feet down, or if you're more advanced do this without any support with knees bent.

As you get warmed up, you can add a little bounce step between each kick, adding more of a dynamic movement to the workout.

Kick as high as you can comfortably (imagine you're kicking a door shut), allowing your stationary leg to support you, bending at the knee slightly. The kicking foot is flexed - lead with the heel.

You'll see in this workout that each round I take it up a notch, making it more and more cardio intensive. Try it out, and stick to what you can sustain for the 0:20 round.

MOD: Alternatively, drive alternating knees up, or do low kicks. You can maintain the kicking without the jumps in between for a low impact version.

TABATA TWO

Move 1: Spider Climbers

Hold plank, belly button in and up. Make sure your hands are stacked below your shoulders and your back is not arched.

Bring your right knee to your outside right elbow then place it back down. Repeat on the left and continue, maintaining a strong plank alignment.

MOD: Perform the same movement with your upper body elevated on a chair or couch to take some of the pressure off and allow you to build strength in your core and arms. You can also do this from a kneeling position, driving your alternating knees to your elbows.

Drive your right knee under you and up toward your left chest, then your left to right in 2 cross body mountain climbers.

Jump your feet back to your hands, loading the weight in your heels and pop up, smoothly kicking one leg out straight, then the other. It's also great to do high knees if the high kicks don't work for you.

MOD: Step your feet back and forth rather than jumping. You can also perform the mountain climbers next to an elevated surface, resting your hands on the side of a couch or chair. Rather than kicks, perform high knees.

Thanks for doing this workout with me today!

I'd love to see you in class - and support you fitness journey! Rock Your Life is the place to get CHALLENGES, get motivated, toned and shredded - JOIN US!